Combines Reports on CVT technology in AFX s

They are testing the Fendt CVT Transmission on the Massey Ferguson 9890 (class 8) in Europe. I've heard nothing but good things so far.

A CVT is an awfully expensive transmission for a combine (and not anymore reliable either),especially for combines as price sensitive as Massey. However, CVT's are better on operating efficiency than a hydrostat tranny, which will be to the Massey's advantage since it is using over 100hp just to operate its hydrostat rotor drive (conserve where you can I guess).

Are you meaning the new style rotor drives on the 8010 series or is it just me that hasn't heard about a CVT tranny meaning the axle driveIJ It's also know as the POWER PlUS DRIVE SYSTEM used to operate the rotor and a seperate one for the feeder. Please correct me if I'm wrong on that!!

I guess I haven't looked close enough at the AFX8010. I do know that an article in Dec. Farm journal talks about the CVT garbox that drives the feederhouse and the header. I don't know about the rotor drive. Maybe someone can bring us up to speed.

It sounds to me that we are talking about the same thing. The power plus drive is for the feeder and rotor. They are independent of each other according to the literature on the 8010's. Regardless your question about some feedback from those who did operate the 8010 this year would be non the less interesting. Just curious to see if anyone used the rotor reverse to unplug the rotor or don't these units plugup.

The CVT drives for the rotor and the feeder_header are similar in design. Basically they are a planetary gear set where the ring gear speed and direction are controlled with the hydro motor. The sun gear is driven from the PTO gearbox through a clutch pack. The planetary carrier is connected to the output shaft. Thus the hydro controlling the ring gear doesn't have any power flow through it. It worked very well in the field. We never had to use the reverser for the rotor, but did use it for the feeder several times. This is a rather simplified explantion as the hydros are controlled from the CCM (computor controller) in the combine and other inputs that the operator selects. Rotor speed stays more consistent and the feeder drive worked similar to auto reel to ground speed that many of you are used to operating. Min speed, max speed, and ratio are set by the operator for the feeder_header drive.

Thanks Striker, You pretty well explained how the whole thing works. I think it is an excellent idea. I was unsure as how the rotor drive worked, but now I know. I'm still confused about why they are having so much trouble keeping the oil cool in the 8010IJ I hear that production of AFX's is on hold till at least April 2004. Engineering must be working out some problems, but I don't know specifically whatIJ

I am not aware of any heating problem on the 8010. Our machine never showed any sympton at all. The CRs had a problem and I understand it had something to do with the hydro setup which is different than the 8010. Production was delayed on the 8010 to give time to make changes for the 2004 machines. There were some issues that they wanted to address before building the next run. I am not sure of all the changes because I have not seen the update sheet yet. They wisely want to get things right before sending out more machines that would have to be updated at the dealership before customer use. We have been down that road before!

The CR problem was smething to do with theSunstrand hyro. NH harvest support suggested operating in 2nd gear in the field rather than 3rd to I guess increase oil flow. I heard that some operators had problems, but I don't know the details.

There was nothing wise about the problems with the 8010. They knew they had problems before they came out. If they would have been wise they would have waited until they had the problems fixed. If they are all so wise how come they haven't released the 7010IJ Because it doesn't work worth a crap!